• Tweet

• Tweet

With the San Antonio Spurs, I think we all know what you get: a team that is pretty much blue-collar, without all the pretense that other NBA teams seem to have in terms of star players with their attitudes. And no doubt, coach Gregg Popovich has something to do with that.

That perhaps may explain the Spurs’ 41-8 record prior to their game against the Sacramento Kings Friday night at Arco Arena. San Antonio was fresh off a close win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, so one could perhaps excuse them if their matchup against Sacramento would resemble the Lakers/Kings game on January 28.

Now comes the reality check. This is the 2011 San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio, as was expected, shot a torrid 57 percent with balanced scoring all the way around and cruised to the easy 113-100 decision over Sacramento.

Tony Parker was hot early on as he scored 12 points in the first quarter and the Spurs shooting 58 percent and would go into the second ahead 34-19.

The Spurs made their first six shots and built a comfortable 49-26 cushion in the opening four minutes of the second period. Parker scored 16 points in the first half and San Antonio went to their bench often as they took a 61-43 lead to their locker room at the break. 

Trailing by 24 halfway through the third quarter, the Kings finally mustered up some offense, with Tyreke Evans scoring 12 in the period and helping Sacramento cut their deficit to 91-75 going into the final period.

The fourth quarter was relatively close, but the Kings couldn’t mount a rally in the final 12 minutes, sending San Antonio away from Arco Arena with the victory.

Six Spurs scored in double-digits, led by Parker with 25 points, along with a rebound, 7 assists and a steal while Richard Jefferson and Tiago Splitter scored 16 apiece – with Jefferson making three 3-pointers,  grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out an assist, along with a steal and a block while Splitter grabbed 9 boards and dished out an assist.

The Kings also had six players score in double-digits, led by Evans with 25 points, along with 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals while Beno Udrih added 18 with 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Carl Landry came off the bench to chip in 17 with 3 rebounds.

San Antonio (42-8) continues their road trip as they fly east to Detroit to take on the Pistons on tuesday night while Sacramento (12-35) remains at home to host the Utah Jazz Monday night.